Automatic shingle guide



Slapt. 16, 1930. I DOME 1,775,815

aurom'nc samema GUIDE F1104 July 15, 1929 Patented Sept. 16, 193i)UNEE'E fiTATES FRANCIS O. DOME, OF LA RUE, OHIO AUTOMATIC SEINGLE GUIDEApplication filed July 15, 1929.

This invention relates to an automatic guide adapted to be used inlaying shingles. Plans for many of the more attractive modern dwellinghouses, and to a great extent, plans for remodeling old houses, specifyshingled sides. In order to secure the desired artistic effect of suchplans, it is of the utmost importance that the shingles on the sides belaid with the greatest accuracy, so that the lower edges of each row arein perfect alinement, since any irregularity therein becomes mostconspicuous.

A chalk line is practically useless where absolute accuracy is desiredand an ordinary straight edge requires a great deal of time and care forsecuring it in proper position for each course.

With the above conditions primarily in mind, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a device which may be easily and quicklyset in position with reference to a course of shingles already laid andwhich, when so set, will automatically provide an accurate guide for thenext course. With this device, the side of a house for a portion of itslength may be shingled all the way to the top while for the rest of itslength not more than the first course has been laid, and the finalresult will be just as satisfactory and will be effected with lesstrouble than if the full length of each course is laid before the nextone is started.

The invention will be more specifically explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention in operative position.

49 Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an edge view of the invention as viewed from the bottom ofFigure 1, the retaining arms being folded.

The invention, is illustrated as used in laying the shingles 5 on thesheathing 6. It comprises a body portion 7 which. in the presentinstance, is in the form of a fiat metal plate. A straight edge 8 issecured to the body portion 7 at its upper edge and may be as longSerial No. 378,389.

as desired. The body portion also has one or more extensions 9projecting above the straight edge 8 and in front of the same andproviding spaced points to which a rail 10 is secured. The straight edge8 18 thick enough and the rail 10 suiiiciently spaced from the surfaceon which the straight edge rests, to provide a pocket for receiving thebutts of the shingles about to be laid.

Secured to the underside of the body portion 7, is a channel member 11,one side flange of which, as indicated at 12, is adapted to be insertedunderneath the course of shingles already laid. The channel member 11may be secured to the body member 7 by means of suitable bolts 13, andslots 14 are provided, whereby the channel member may be adjusted withrespect to the body in accordance with the length of the shingles, whichis to be exposed to the weather.

These same bolts 13 may also serve to hold the retaining arms 15 whichare preferably bowed and formed from spring metal so tensioned thattheir lower ends will bear against the surface of the next lower courseof shingles and exert sufficientpressure to hold the guide firmly in theposition in which it is placed. It is also desirable to provide thelower ends of the arms 15 with spurs 16 which will bite into the woodand aid in retaining the guide in its position.

The guide may also be provided with forwardly extending handles 17which, in the present instance, are secured to the body portion by thesame bolts 18 that secure the) straight edge thereto.

In the operation of the invention, the side flange 12 of the channelmember is inserted underneath the butts of the last course of shingleslaid and the guide is then raised means the next course of shingles tobe laid surface of the shingles, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to holdthe guide firmly in position. When the guide is to be reset in anotherposition, the arms 15 may be swung inwardly to the position shown indotted lines in Figure 1. Thus it Will be seen that Whenever the deviceis set as indicated, the straight edge 8 Will automatically assume thecorrect position to provide an accurate gage for the 7 next course ofshingles and Will be firmly held in such position. It is also to benoted that it is not necessary to complete one course for'its entirelength before the next course is started.

While I have shown and described specifically one embodiment of theinvention, it is obvious that the size, shape and general arrangement ofthe various parts thereof may be considerably modified Without departingmaterially from the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is: I

' 1. vA shingle guide comprising a body, 7

means associated with the body for engaging underneath the butts ofshingles already laid,

means for gaging from said first mentioned means thenext course ofshingles to be laid, and arms shiftable on said body into position tobear against the shingled surface to support the body or'into inactiveposition where they bear against said body.

2. A shingle guide comprising a body, means associated With the bodyforengaging underneath the butts of shingles already laid, means forgaging from said first mentioned and arms pivoted to said body on axesper:

pendicular to the shingled surface, said arms I I I being shiftableabout their axes into position Where their ends bear against theshingled surface to support the body or to inactive position Wheretheirends bear against said body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification. FRANCIS O. DOJSIE;

